Adjustable chimney cleaner



April 21, 1931.

F. BUCHHOLTZ ADJUSTABLE CHIMNEY CLEANER Filed 000. 25, 1927 PatentedApr. 21, 1931 FERDINAND BUCHHOLTZ, OF KEYSTONE, WISCONSIN ADJUSTABLECHIMNEY CLEANER Application filed October 25, 1927. Serial No. 228,628.P

This invention relates to the class of flue cleaners which areadjustable and designed most especially for sweeping chimneys to clearthem of soot and other deposits to obviate danger from fire and preventinterference with the draft.

While the drawing illustrates a preferred embodiment of the invention itis to be understood that in adapting the means to meet 5 thereof.

For a full understanding of the invention and the merits thereof,reference is to be had to the following description and the drawingheretofore attached, in which,

Figure 1 is a perspective view of an adjustable chimney cleanerembodying the invention.

Figure 2 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view.

Figure 3 is a perspective view of cooperating spiders and an end portionof the spring guide, the parts being separated and disposed in a group.

Corresponding and like parts are referred as to in the followingdescription and designated in the several views of the drawing by likereference characters.

The device comprises a centrally disposed rod 1 which is uniformlythreaded throughout its length and formed into an eye 2 at its upperend. A spider 3 is mounted centrally upon the rod 1 which is threaded inan opening formed in the center of the spider. Cross heads 4 areprovided at the outer ends of the 4:) arms of the spider, and pins 5project out wardly from the ends of the arms.

Flat springs 6 are adapted to be connected intermediate their ends toselected cross heads 4 of the spider, preferably by means -23 of thumbscrews 7 which are threaded into openings formed centrally of the crossheads 4. Each of the fiat springs 6 is formed with openings to receivethe projecting ends of the pins 5 whereby to prevent turning of thesprings upon the screws 7. Brushes 8 are fitted to the ends of each ofthe springs 6. The brushes 8 may be of any desired construction andsecured to the ends of the springs 6 in any manner. It will beunderstood that the springs 6 are oppositely ar-"ss ranged so that thebrushes carried thereby will operate upon opposite Walls of a chimneyaccording to the relative position of the cleaner when introduced intothe chimney A spring guide or runner 9 is located in- '60 termediate theflat springs 6 to engage one of the Walls of the chimney intermediatethose engaged by opposite brushes 8. Upon turning the cleaner thebrushes 8 will operate upon the walls intermediate thereof. The runneror guide 9 consists of a flat spring bent approximately into the form ofa bow and having its end portions rebent as indicated at 10, then bentlaterally as indicated at 11, and longitudinally slotted to receivethumb'to screws 12, whereby they are adjustably connected to spreadersmountedupon end portions of the rod 1. There are two spreaders at i eachend of the rod 1, and each of the spread ers comprises two members 13and 14 which 7 are connected by means of the thumb screws 15. The member13 is of disk form, whereas the member 14 is elongated. The members 13are threaded upon opposite ends of the rod 1 and are adjusted towardsand away from the spider 3 by rotation to the right or to the left, asrequired. 'When the spreaders are moved towards the spider the outerends of the springs 6 are deflected outwardly, thereby separatingopposite brushes 8 and $5 adapting the cleaner for larger chimneys.Outward movement of the spreaders towards the ends of the rod" 1 admitsof the outer ends of the springs 6 moving inward, whereby the cleaner isadapted for chimneys of smaller90 size. Movement of the spreaders alongthe rod 1 brings the offset ends 11 of the spring runner or guide 9closer together or farther apart, with the result that the outer portionof the runner or guide is moved outwardly or inwardly to correspond withthe adjustment of the brushes. Each of the spreaders comprises themembers 13 and 14. The member 14 has a slot formed thereinthroughwhichthe threaded rod 1 loosely passes, but said .100

member has the guide 9 adjustably connected thereto by means of thescrew 12. Adjust ment of the spreaders on the rod 1 is etiected byrotating the members 13 to the right or to the left, according to thedesired adjustment and when the members 13 are adjusted, the members 14are connected thereto by means of the screws 15.

Short chains 16 are connected at one end to the upper ends of thesprings 6. A third chain 17 is connected to the upper end of the guide9. The upper ends of the chains 16 and 17 converge and are connected toan operating chain 19 or like part by means of a ring 20. The chain 17is adjustal'ily connected with the ring 20, and its upper end has a snaphook fitted thereto which is adapted to engage a link of the chain 17.

The spider 3 includes two arms which cross at a right angle. One arm isshort and the other arm lon The cross heads t at the ends of therespective arms of the spider are equidistant from the rod 1. Thesprings 6 may be attached to the cross heads l of either set of arms ofthe spider according to the size of the chimney to be cleaned. For smallsized chimneys the guide 9 may be omitted and the springs 6 may beattached to the cross heads 4 of the short arm of the spider. Thespiders 1% may likewise be dispensed with. For larger chimneys thespiders 14 are required to deflect the ends of the springs 6 out- Wardlyto spread the brushes 8 the requisite distance to engage opposite wallsof the chimney when the cleaner is in active operation. hen the walls ofthe chimney are of a width greater than the length of the brushes theguide 9 properly positions the cleaner to act upon a portion of thewalls, the remaining portion being cleaned by turning the cleaner, aswill be readily comprehended. By adjusting the guide 9 and the spreadersthe cleaner may be readily adapted for different sized chimneys.

Having thus described the invention, I

claim 1. A chimney cleaner comprising a rod, flat springs connectedintermediate their ends to the said rod and provided at opposite endswith brushes. spreaders adjustable on tne rod and engaged between thesprings for spreading the same, and a spring guide of bow form havingits ends adjustably connected with the spreaders and movable therewith.

2. A chimne cleaner comprising a rod, supporting elements upon oppositeend portions of the rod, cleaning members mounted upon the rod and aspring guide of bow-form havin opposite end portions rebent, thenceout-turned and slotted, the slotted portion engaging the supportingelements and adjust-ably connected thereto.

3. A chimney cleaner comprising a threaded rod, a spider mountedcentrally thereon, springs secured centrally to opposite parts of thespider and having brushes at their ends, a member threaded upon each endof the rod, an elongated member associated with each of the threadedmembers and disposed between corresponding end portions of the springsto effect lateral adjustment of the brushes, a bowed spring having itsends adjustably connected. with the members mounted on opposite endportions of the threaded rod and movable therewith, an operating member,short flexible connections between the operating member and the upperends of the brush carrying springs, and a flexible connection adjustablyconnecting the upper end of the bowed spring with the said operatingmember.

In testimony whereof I aliix my signature.

FERDINAND BUCI-IHOLTZ. [11. s]

